Selection mechanism for ten-key multiplier control unit



y 1960 H. J. CHALL ETAL SELECTION MECHANISM FOR TEN-KEY MULTIPLIERCONTROL UNIT Filed 00M 13, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 dd o c o o odd o@QQQQQQQQ m wm m m m m m m m m m m m w m w w m w m w @QQQQQQQQQ H. J.CHALL ETAL 2,935,253

SELECTION MECHANISM FOR TEN-KEY MULTIPLIER CONTROL UNIT Filed Oct. 1a,1955 May; 3, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 3, 1960 H. J. CHALL ETAL2,935,253

SELECTION MECHANISM FOR TEN-KEY MULTIPLIER CONTROL UNIT Filed Oct. 13,1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 3, 1960 H. J. CHALL ETAL SELECTION MECHANISMFOR TEN-KEY MULTIPLIER CONTROL UNIT Filed Oct. 13, 1953 6 SheetsSheet 4NON "ON how May 3, 1960 H. J. CHALL I' 2,935,253

SELECTION MECHANISM FOR TEN-KEY MULTIPLIER CONTROL UNIT Filed Oct. 13,1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIE 5 y 1960 H. J. CHALL ETAL 2,935,253

M FOR TEN-KEY MULTIPLIER CONTROL UNIT SELECTION MECHANIS Filed Oct. 13,

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 nited States Patent SELECTION MECHANISM FOR TEN-KEYMULTIPLIER CONTROL UNIT Application October 13, 1953, Serial No. 385,766

f i 10. Claims. Cl. 235-63) This invention relates to calculatingmachines, and more particularly to animproved selection mechanism forinsetting values into a multiplier control unit of the type shown anddescribed in the patent to Carl M. Friden, No. 2,371,752, issued March20, 1945.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a selectionmechanism for a ten-key machine, such as the multiplier mechanism abovementioned, which eliminates the resetting combs heretofore conventionalin this type of mechanism.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide what is.sometimes called a flexible ten-key keyboard, i.e., a selectionmechanism in which a value is set by the depression of a value key,which value remains latched in the mechanism until another key isdepressed in that same order, the depression of the second key in theorder causing the release of the first value and the insertion of thesecond.

Still a further object'of the present invention is to provide a ten-keyselection mechanism particularly adapatable for repeat operations, i.e.,a series of operations in which the value is maintained for a pluralityof different problems, or operations; it being conventional in the pastto provide a selection rack in, two portions, one of which was latchedfor a repeat operation while the other was rotated during the operationto control digitation and then returned to the first portion by asuitable spring.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide aselection mechanism for a multiplying unit of the type described, whichis simpler and more economical to assemble than that conventional in theart.

These and other objects of the present-invention will be apparent fromthe specification and claims which follow, both of which will be morereadily understood by reference to the drawings which form a part hereofand in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine of the type described in said Fridenpatent, with a portion of the cover broken away to show some of themechanism involved in the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a right side view of the multiplier selection unit with whichour invention is associated.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the pin carriage of our invention, such astaken along the oblique. plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a left side view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and'3. p

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the multiplier mechanism such astaken along the horizontal plane indicated by the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6' is a front view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7' is a rear view of the escapement mechanism associated with thepin box, or carriage, such' as one taken along the oblique planeindicated by the line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of multiplier unit digit keysassociated with our invention.

"ice

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the selection levers,intermediate the keyboard and the pin carriage of the multipliermechanism.

Our invention is preferably associated with the multiplication mechanismshown and described in the abovementioned patent to Friden No.2,371,752. In fact, the present invention discloses certain improvementsin the mechanism there shown and described. The commercial machinemanufactured in accordance with the teachings of said patent has beenmodified in certain particulars not here pertinent, to follow theteachings of the patents to Friden, et al., No. 2,376,997, of May 29,1945 and No. 2,399,917, of May 7 1946. In view of the similarity of thepresent mechanism to that shown in the patent first mentioned, it isdeemed unnecessary to describe the complete machine in detail.Therefore, only so much of that machine as is essential to anunderstanding of the present invention will be described, and for a fullunderstanding of the operation of the complete machine one is referredto that patent.

It should be noted at the outset that the present invention relates tocertain improvements in the multiplier unit of that patent, andparticularly to a simplified construction of the pin carriage and theassociated selection racks which form a portion of the selectionmechanism of that machine.

7 The complete machine is shown in Fig. 1, and comprises a full, or key,keyboard 20 which is supported between right frame plate 21 and leftframe plate 22. The keyboard 20 controls a selection mechanism, notshown and not pertinent to the present invention, which cooperates withcyclically operated actuators, likewise not shown, to enter valuesadditively or subtractively into an accumulator register. 24 which ismounted in a shiftable carriage 25. The carriage also has a counter, orquotient register, 26 which is operative to count the cycles ofoperation, and in multiplication operations will normally show themultiplier at the end of the operation.

To the left of the front portion of the keyboard 20 is a multiplierkeyboard 30 which is supported between the left frame plate 22 and leftside control, or auxiliary, plate 23. The keyboard 30 is of the ten-keytype, having ten value keys for the 0 and values 1 to 9, inclusive,which are operative to enter values into a multiplier mechanism order byorder, beginning with the highest.

.The machine is preferably provided with a window 31 through which checkdials showing the multiplier digits, can be seen.

It can be noted that the machine is provided with certain multipliercontrol keys adjacent to, and surrounding, the multiplier keyboard 30.However, these control keys operate in the manner shown in the patentsmentioned, and have nothing to do with the instant invention, whichrelates specifically to the selection mechanism of the multiplier unit.The mechanisms operated by these control keys are not shown anddescribed in the instant application. It can also be noted that thereare a number .of operation control keys to the right of the main, orfull, keyboard '20, which likewise are not described, for they ;operatein a conventional manner and have no connection with the presentinvention.

Our invention relates to the selection mechanism of the multiplier unit,which mechanism includes the keys 30; a multiplier carriage whichincludes a plurality of orders of settable pins and an actuating rackassociated with each order of" pins; and interponent levers for setting.the pins from the depression of the keys 30. The keyboard 30 and theassembly associated therewith are of conventional construction, butbecause of their close association with the selection mechanism of ourinvention, will be described in some detail. As shown in Fig. 1, themultiplierkeys 30 from 1 to 9 are arranged anemone in a square 3 x 3relationship, with the key located in front of the value keys. The keys30 are mounted upon key stems 32 (see Figs. 2 and 8), each of which keystem is provided with a laterally offset portion 33 and spaced guideportions 34 and 35, preferably extending in planes at right angles toeach other. The guide extensions 34 are continuations of the key stem 32proper, While the extensions 35 project downwardly from the offsetportions 33 so as to be symmetrically staggered along a centrallongitudinal axis of the keyboard 30. The key stems 32 are slidablymounted in a frame comprising an upper plate 36 and a lower plate 37which are tied together by suitable spacing members, not shown, andwhich are rigidly mounted on the frame plates 22 and 23.

It can be noted, as shown in Fig. 2, that the upper portion of the keystem 32 extends through suitable slots, or apertures, not shown, in theupper plate 36, while the guide stems 34 and 35 extend through similarapertures, not shown, in the lower frame plate 37, and the lateralportions 33 lie intermediate the two plates. The keys and theirassociated stems are normally biased to their upper position by suitablesprings 38 compressedbetween the lower frame plate 37 and the lateralextensions 33. The lateral extensions 33 are bent so that their outerends are in parallel aligned relation for operating the multiplierescapement mechanism which will be described briefly hereafter (andwhich is fully shown and described in the patent above-mentioned). Fig.8 illustrates the 4" value key. It will be understood that the formationof the lateral extensions 33 of the other keys differs somewhat fromthat shown in this figure, but that all of them are provided with a noseportion 39 lying in a longitudinal plane extending between the 2, and 8keys on the left and the 3, 6 and 9" keys on the right so as to overliethe escapement control bar 160 shown in Fig. 7. The guide stems 35 arealigned in a staggered fashion along a substantially longitudinal axisfor operation with the noses 53 of the interponent, or selection, leversshown particularly in Fig. 9, as is fully shown and described in saidpatent. In the patent referred to, the 9 multiplier key 39 was notprovided with a guide stem 35 because the 9 key was used only to operatethe escapement mechanism which, in turn, released the selection racks100, but did not set a selection pin 81, as the rack was allowed totravel until it abutted against a 9 stop bar 94. However, in ourinvention the 9 key is provided with a guide stem 35 which overlies asmall bellcrank lever 92 for the purposes hereinafter described.

Associated with the multiplier value keys are a series of eightinterponent, or selection, levers 50, one of which is illustrated inFig. 9. These levers correspond to the values 1 to 8, inclusive, nonebeing needed for a 0 selection, as in that event the selection racks 100are not released for it is only necessary to operate the escapementmechanism; and none is required for a value of 9, as it is onlynecessary to release the rack 100 through the escapement mechanism andto operate the bellcrank 92. in order to release the ordinal pin latchto be described shortly. These interponents, or selection, levers 50 areoperated by their respective keys to lift one of the setting pins 81.For this purpose the interponent levers 50 are mounted on a common shaft51 in abutting relationship. Each lever is provided with a forwardlyextending arm 52 on the forward end of which is a nose 53 that underliesthe guide stem of the associated value key 30, these arms 52 being ofdifferent lengths. Thus, depression of any of the value keys will beoperative to rock the corresponding interponent lever 50. Each of theselection levers is also provided with a downwardly and rearwardlyextending nose 54 which is effective to set the selection pins, as laterdescribed. The respective noses 54 lie in a guide slot 55 in the guideplate 56 rigidly mounted between the frameplates 22 and 23, in order tohold the noses 54 in a single ordinal plane, against lateraldisplacement. The levers are resiliently biased toward a retractedposition (clockwise in Fig. 2) against a supporting bracket 57 by meansof suitable springs 58 tensioned between apertures 59 in the bracket andapertures 61 in cars mounted on the nose portions of the levers 50. Itwill be understood that depression of any of the value keys 1 to 8 willbe operative to rock the associated interponent lever 50(counterclockwise in Fig. 2) about its shaft 51, whereupon its nose 54will engage the related value pin 81 in the aligned ordinal row of pinsin the pin carriage to move the pin to an active position. It is seen,there fore, that the respective selection levers 50 are provided for themultiplier keys 30 for the values 1 to 8, respectively, and that upondepression of a key 30, the corresponding lever 50 will be rocked aboutshaft 51 to project its finger 54 to active pin-setting position shownin Fig. 2 as applied to the 6 key, selection lever, and related pin. Inthe pin carriage, eight pins are provided in each ordinal row for thekeys "1 to 8, inclusive, and a fixed stop 94 is provided correspondingto the value 9. The only function of the depression of the 9 multiplierkey 3% is to operate the escapement mechanism to step the shiftableselection mechanism one step to the left and to operate the aligned zerolatch 110 to release the aligned rack 100 in the pin carriage, and, inour invention, to release the ordinal pin latch 88 to be describedlater. Neither is a pin necessary for the value 0, as the only functionof the 0 key is to operate the escapement mechanism.

t will be understood that the keyboard, its frame and the associatedselection, or interponent, levers 50 and plate 56 are fixedly mounted inthe machine framethere being the ten value keys and the eight selectionlevers as above mentioned. Associated with this fixed mechanism is ashiftable carriage, designated generally at 70. The shiftable multipliercarriage 70 comprises a pair of end plates 71, a pair of frame plates 75and 76, the end and frame plates being held in rigid relationship by aplurality of tie bars 72. The carriage 70 is shiftable transversely on apair of carriage rails 73 and 74, which are rigidly mounted in the leftside frame and control plates 22 and 23, respectively. The frame plates'75 and 76 are provided with a plurality of ordinally arranged slots80-there being eight such slots in each order and, in the conventionalFriden machine, there are ten orders. The slots 80 are aligned in thetop and bottom plates and each pair is adapted to receive a pin 81 formovement therethrough. The various pins 81, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4,are of different sizes, as shown, roughly following a circumference ofthe forward nose of the selection rack 100. The various pins '81 areresiliently biased downwardly by compression springs 82 which are seatedin slots 83 in the lower end of the pins, the springs being compressedbetween the bottom of the lower frame plate 76 and the bottom portion ofthe slot 83. Excessive downward movement of the pins 81 is blocked byany suitable means, such as projections 84, which in the lower positionof the pins 81 abut against the top of the bottom plate 76.

Each of the pins 81 is provided with a laterally extending projection65, as shown in Fig. 3, the top of which is provided with a cam face 86,while the bottom forms an abrupt shoulder 87. Associated with thelatching projection 35, in each order of the pins 81, is an ordinallatching bail 88. Each bail 88 is pivotally journalled in the multipliercarriage, as by mounting upon a shaft 3'9 which is pivotally mounted inthe upstanding sides of the lower frame plate 76. The latching bails 83are provided with a latching nose 90 and each is resilient! Y biasedinto engagement with the side of the pins 81 of that order by anysuitable means, such as a spring tensioned between a bar 96 rigidlysecured to the shaft 3 89 and a second bar 97 mounted in the carriage 70ad jacent the bottom plate 76.

It will be seen, by reference particularly to Fig. 3,

that as a pin is translated upwardly by the rocking of its associatedselection lever 50, the latching bail 88 is first cammed outwardly, oraway from, the pin by the cam edge 86, thereby releasing any latched pinin that order for return to its lower position; and, after full movementof the pin, then latches under the shoulder 87 to hold that pin in itsupward, or effective, position. It is obvious that as any value isplaced in the carriage, the proper pin in the operative order will beelevated to its effective position, in which position it will be latchedby the bail 88; and that the operation of the bail by the movement ofthe pin will be operative to release any previously latched pins in thatorder. It can be mentioned again that there is no 9" pin in thecarriage, as the selection rack, when a value of 9 is to be inserted inthe multiplier unit, will travel to, and abut against, a stop 94 formedas a tie rod between the end plates 71. However, when it is desired toinsert a 9 in one of the orders of the pin carriage, it is necessarythat any previously set pin in that order be returned to its normal,inoperative, position. This clearing of the other values from thekeyboard is secured by rocking the bail 88 to release any of the setpins in that order, whereupon they will be retracted to theirinoperative position by the force of their respective springs 82. Asimple means for rocking the latching bail 88, by operation of the 9key, is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. This mechanism comprises a smallbellcrank 92 pivoted on a small pin 93 attached to the lower plate 37 ofthe keyboard frame. The forward end of the bellcrank 92 extendsforwardly under the lower frame plate 37 of the multiplier keyboard, andlies beneath the guide stem 35 of the number 9 key. The rearward end ofthe bellcrank 92 is bent so as to underlie an ear 91 of the ordinallyrelated latch bail 88. Thus the depression of the 9 key will beeffective to operate the carriage escapement mechanism hereafter to bedescribed, and also rock the bellcrank 92 (counter-clockwise in Fig. 2)to rock the bail 88 to its unlatching position-whereupon any set pin inthat order will be retracted by the force of its spring 82 to itsineffective position. It can also be noted again that no pincorresponding to a value is necessary as the depression of the 0 keywill operate the escapement mechanism to cause the carriage to step oneorder toward the left, but will not be operative to release a selectionrack 100 to be described hereafter.

The carriage 70 also carries a plurality of differentially settableelements in the form of pivoted, spring-actuated, racks 100, which arenormally held in their 0 positions andwhich can be released to assume adifierential adjustment in accordance with the pin of the associatedorder or row-there being one such differentially positionable rack foreach order of settable pins. The racks 100 are pivotally mounted on atransverse shaft 101, the ends of which are mounted in the end plates71. The racks 100 are resiliently biased to a fully operative position(clockwise in Fig. 2 and counter-clockwise in Fig. 4) by a suitablespring 102, one end of which is seated in an aperture 103 on hub 104 andthe other end of which is seated on a transverse rod 105 rigidly mountedin the end plates 71. The hub 104 serves as a spacing member to separatethe racks 100 and is preferably formed with a concave circumferentialsurface to hold the spring 102. The rearwardly extending portion of therack 100 is provided with ratchet teeth 1G6 which control operation ofthe multiplying mechanism of the machine, as fully explained in thepatent above-mentioned. This multiplying mechanism will not be explainedherein as it is assumed that it is conventional and will operate in aconventional manner. The forward portion of each of the differentiallypositionable racks 100 is provided with a face107 carryingthenumeralcharacters 0 and 6 1 to 9, inclusive, which dial can be viewed throughthe window 31 of the machine to indicate to the operator the valueswhich have been set in the multiplying mechanism.

The selection racks are held in a disabled, or 0, position by means of alatch member associated with each order of the selection carriage. Thelatch members 110 are pivotally mounted on a transverse rod 111 mountedin the carriage 70, and are resiliently biased to a latching position(counter-clockwise in Fig. 2 and clockwise in Fig. 4) by means of asuitable spring 112 tensioned between the lower end of the latch memberand one of the tie rods 72. It can be mentioned at this point that thelatch member 110 is operated by the carriage escapement mechanism to bepresently described, thereby releasing the ordinally aligneddifferentially positionable rack 100 to the force of its respectivespring 102, whereupon the rack will rotate (clockwise in Fig. 2 andcounter-clockwise in Fig. 4) to a position determined by one of the setpins 81 or the 9 stop 94.

In the conventional mechanism of the patent heretofore mentioned, therack 100 is provided with a forwardly extending nose 108 which abutsagainst the upper end of the latch lever 110. However, in our inventionwe prefer to provide the rack with a live, or yieldable, nose 113. Thenose 113 is integral with an arm 114 which is pivotally mounted on therack 100 by any suitable means, such as rivet, or stud, 115. The arm 114is formed so that the nose 113 lies in the plane of the selection rack100 and particularly the nose 108 and its associated latching arm 110,the rear edge of the arm 114 preferably abutting the nose 108 of theselection segment. The arm 114 is resiliently held in its operativeposition by a suitable spring 116 tensioned between the arm 114 and theselection rack, and is held against lateral displacement by means of aprojection 117 enclosed between a portion of the rack 100 and alaterally projecting ear 118.

In multiplying operations the racks 100 are returned from theirdifferentially adjusted positions, step-by-step with each cycle ofoperation, to the 0 or, ineffective, position shown. Normally it rocksthe associated latch 110 slightly at this last step of operation, and isthereupon relatched in the 0 position. However, in repeat operations(i.e., when a constant multiplier factor is locked into the multiplyingmechanism), the latch 110 will be locked in its normal position toprevent its rocking to relatch the actuator racks 100. In that situationthe live tip 113 of the actuator rack will yield, against the tension ofthe spring 116, thereby preventing relatching of the actuator rack as itreturns to its 0 position. However, in that situation the rack canreturn to its original differential position, for in that condition thenose 113 cannot engage the end of the latch 110, and the selectionsegment 100, therefore, cannot be latched in its inoperative, or 0,position. Thus, in repeat operation, a rack returns to its adjusteddifferential position as soon as it is shifted to the right of theoperating ordinal position.

The carriage 70 is strongly biased to the left, i.e., to the position inwhich all of the selection racks 100 are in operative position tocontrol a multiplying operation, by means of a lever (see particularlyFig. 5), which is pivotally mounted on the base plate 27 by any suitablemeans, such as screw stud 126. The forward end of the lever 125 ispulled toward the right of the machine (counter-clockwise, or to theright, in Fig. 5) by a relatively strong spring 127, which extendsacross the front of the machine, the right end preferably being seatedin the right frame plate 21 (see Fig. l). The rear end of the lever 125is bent to form an upstanding portion 128, the upper end of which isslotted to receive the right frame plate 71. Thus, the force of spring127 biases the multiplier carriage 70 to the left. In the left-handposition of the carriage all of the selection racks 100 will be inoperative position to control a multiplying operation, as

explained in the Patent No. 2,371,752. Normally the carriage is latchedin its right-hand position in which it is ineffective to control amultiplication operation, and the means for so latching said carriage inits right-hand posi tion and for moving it step-by-step to the left asvalues are inserted in the multiplier keyboard 30 will now be described.

The forward portion of the shiftable carriage 70 carries a forwardlyextending rack 135 (Figs. 2, 4 and 7) which cooperates with anescapement mechanism mounted on the rear of the keyboard frame, andshown particularly in Fig. 7. The rack 135 has a plurality of ordinallyspaced teeth, as shown particularly in Fig. 7. Movement of the carriage70 to the left (to the right in Fig. 7) is blocked by means of a holdingpawl 136. The holding pawl 136 is in the form of a bellcrank, and ispivotally mounted on a stud 137 supported by a bracket 14-2 integralwith the bottom frame plate 37. The pawl 136 is resiliently biased toengaging position by a spring 138 tensioned between the arm 139 of thebellcrank, and arm 155 of stepping pawl 15b. The pawl 136 is providedwith an integral nose 14f shaped to form blocking engagement with theteeth of rack 135 on the right end thereof (left end in Fig. 7) in orderto block leftward movement of the carriage 76. The inner, or left-hand,side of the nose 140 is formed with a cam face 141, so that the pawl 136will be rocked out of engagement with the rack when the carriage 70 isreturned toward the right (to the left in Fig. 7).

A stepping pawl 150 is associated with the holding pawl 136. Thestepping pawl 150 is also in the form of a bellcrank pivoted on a stud151 supported by a bracket 152 integral with the bottom frame plate 37.The holding pawl 136 and the stepping pawl 1S1) lie in immediatelyadjacent planes and cooperate to control the step-by-step movement ofthe carriage toward the left (right in Fig. 7). The stepping pawl 150carries an car 153 bent into the plane of the holding pawl 136 and theteeth of rack 135. When the stepping pawl is rocked downward (clockwisein Fig. 7) the car 153 moves down into the path of travel of the teethof rack 135, being then spaced therefrom a distance slightly less thanhalf a step. The free end of the stepping pawl 150 overlies a pin 143carried by the free end of the holding pawl 136, being spaced therefroma short distance. Thus, the rocking of the stepping pawl 150 to itsdownward, or operative, position first places the car 153 in the path oftravel of rack 135 and then engages the pin 143 to rock the holding pawl136 out of blocking engagement with the teeth of rack 135. By this meansthe multiplier carriage is enabled to take a partial step upon therocking of the stepping pawl lStl, but is prevented from taking a fullstep by the ear 153. In this position, the tip of the nose 149 will liebelow the bottom face of the teeth of rack 135. Then, as the pawl 15%returns to its normal position, the car 153 moves out of the path oftravel of the teeth of rack 135, but spring 133 simultaneously rocks theholding pawl 136 upwardly so that its nose 140 again enters the spacebetween the teeth of the rack, and blocks the rack at the next fullordinal position.

The pawls are operated by the escapement bar 160 which is mounted on thefree ends of arms 161, one at the front and another at the back of thekeyboard frame. The two arms 161 are pivotally mounted on studs 162supported by brackets 163 integral with the lower plate 37 of thekeyboard frame. It will be recalled that the lateral extension of eachof the value keys, excluding but including 9, overlies the escapementbar 16$. Thus, depression of any value key, except 0, is operative todepress the bar 160, which rotates around the pivots 162 as a center.The bar 160 extends rearwardly from the keyboard frame to penetrate aslot, or aperture, 154 in the stepping pawl 150. By this means, thedepression of any key is operative to rock stepping pawl 150 and holdingpawl 136--the downward movement of these pawls permitting a partial stepof the multiplier carriage toward the left (right in Fig. 7) and therelease of the key and the rise of the two pawls permitting the balanceof the step to move the carriage one ordinal space.

Depression of the 0 key is also operative to rock the escapement pawlsjust described. When the 0 is depressed it engages an arm, not shown,rigidly mounted on shaft 164 rotatably mounted in a pair of brackets 165integral with the lower plate 37. At its rear end the shaft 164 carriesan arm 166, on the outer end of which riveted a pin 167, also embracedin aperture 154. Thus, the 0 key also operates the escapement mechanismto release the multiplier carriage for a single step to the right.

The depression of the escapement bar 160 is also operative to controlthe release of the latch member 110 (Fig. 2) to release the ordinallyaligned selection rack 100. The mechanism for accomplishing this resultis shown particularly in Fig. 2. An arm 174) is pivotally mounted on thebracket 57 by any suitable means, such as screw 171, which is secured tocar 172 of the bracket 57. The forward end of the lever is provided withan upstanding nose 173 which penetrates a slot-like aperture 174 in thebase plate 37 of the keyboard framethe slot being located directly belowthe escapement bar 160. The nose 173 rises to an elevation immediatelybelow the escapement bar 16! whereby depression of the bar by any of thekeys is effective to cause it to en- 'gage the nose 173 and rock thelever 170 (counterclockwise in Fig. 2). The rear end of the lever 170 ispivotally connected to a link 175 by any suitable means, such as pin176. The lower and rearward end of the link 175, in turn, is pivotallyconnected to arm 177 by any suitable means, such as stud 178. The arm177 is pivotally mounted on a bracket, not shown, extending from theleft side control plate 23. The upper end of the arm 177 is providedwith a nose 179 which lies immediately behind the lower end of thelatching lever 110. Thus depression of the escapement bar 160 rocks thelever 176$ (counter-clockwise in Fig. 2) which, through link 175, rocksthe arm 177 in the same direction. When arm 177 is so rocked, it engagesthe latching arm 110 and causes it to release the selection rack 101 ofthe aligned order. The depression of a value key 31) will, by this time,have elevated the proper pin 81 to its operative position to block therack in the proper differential position.

The mechanism of our invention is particularly adaptable to a repeatmultiply operation, i.e., one in which a multiplier value can be lockedin the selection mechanism so that it may be used for a number ofmultiplying cycles. When it is desired to use a multiplier factor for arepeated cycle of multiplication, the value is set into the selectionmechanism by depression of the keys in order. Thereafter a repeat button209 (Fig. l) is pulled to its forward, or operative, position. Thebutton 280 is mounted on a suitable slide 201 (Fig. 4) mounted inbrackets 292 on the upper plate 36 of the keyboard frame. The slide 2G1is detented in either its operative or inoperative position by anysuitable means, not shown. The slide 2111 carries a depending projection2&3 to the lower extremity of which is riveted a small pin 264. The pinis embraced within a diagonally positioned cam slot 295 in the rearwardend of a bent arm 266. The arm 2% is pivotally mounted on the frameplate 36 by any suitable means, such as stud 2l7 secured to bracket2138. The rearward end of the arm 2% overlies an ear 21.5 formed on therear end of a bellcrank 216 which is pivotally mounted on the lowerframe plate 37 by any suitable means, such as stud 217 in bracket 218.The depending arm of the bellcrank 216 projects through an aperture, notshown, in the lower frame plate 37, which arm is slotted at its lowerend, as at 219.

The bifurcation 219 on the lower end of the bellcrank- 216 embraces apin226 on the substantially vertieal arm of a three-armed lever 225(Fig.4). The'threarmed lever 225 is pivotally mounted, as on a st'ud227'extending to the right from the left-hand control plate 23, as shown inFig. 5. The forwardly extending arm of the crank 225 is provided with anose, or single tooth, 228 adapted to cooperate with the teeth 261 of anarmate rack formed on the free end of a lever 260, as will hereafter bedescribed. The third arm of the crank225 is pivotally connected at itsrear end to two'links-229 and 230 by any suitable means, such as pin231.

The rear end of the link 229 is pivotally connected to a two-armed lever235, as by pin 236 (see Fig. 4). The lever'235 is pivotally mounted on atransverse shaft 278. The upper end of the lever 235 carries a shortstud 237 which is embraced by a slot, not shown, in the lower end of anarm 238 of a bail 239 pivoted on a small shaft 240. The bail 239 has aflanged shoulder 241 lying immediately in front of the selection racklatch 110, and when rocked to its operative condition (clockwise fromthe position shown in Fig. 4), rises to a point to block rocking of thelatch 110. If the latch 110 cannot rock (counter-clockwise in Fig. 4 orclockwise in Fig. 2) as the aligned selection rack 100 is stepped backto its position in the multiplying operation, the rack cannot be latchedin an inoperative position. In this event the live tip 114 yields topermit the rack to take the final step to initiate a carriage shift, asdescribed in said patent, but the nose 113 thereof cannot engage'theupper edge of the latch arm 110. Therefore, as soon as the multipliercarriage has been stepped one order to the right, which moves theselection rack away from the control of the multiplying mechanism, therack will immediately re turn to the value position determined bytheelevated pin 81. This value cannot be seen by the operator as theselection rack will then lie to the right of the window 51. Then if, atthe end of the multiplying operation, the carriage is permitted toreturn to the proper ordinal position determined by the set multiplyingfactor, the racks will remain in their operative position anda secondoperation can be initiated.

The other link 230 which is pinned to the three-armed crank 225, is bentto extend to the left through an aperture in the control plate 23 (asshown in Fig. 5). At its outer end it is pivotally connected to aninterponent 245. This interponent is operated by a member 246 which istranslated upwardly at the end of a multiplying operation,simultaneously with the release of a multiplier control key. When theinterponent 245 is in effective position, i.e., when rocked by the link230 upon forward movement of the repeat key 200, it is placed under theleft end of the holding pawl 136 (see Fig. 7). Then the movement of theinterponent at the end of the multiplication operation, rocks theholding pawl. 136 (counter-clockwise in Fig. 7) to release the rack onthe multiplier carriage and permit it to be spring-urged by force ofspring 127 to an adjusted position, toward the left. Normally thecarriage would travel to its extreme left-hand position, but in repeatmultiplying operations it is blocked by an ordinal latching means whichwill now be described.

I The latching means just mentioned comprises a bellcrank 250,associated with the lever 125 which connects the power spring 127 to theshiftable multiplier carriage. The bellcrank 250 is pivotally mounted onthe screw stud 126, immediately above the lever 125, and is connected tothe latter by means of an eccentric belt 251 embraced within a slot, oraperture, 252 in the bellcrank. Thus, the relative position of thebellcrank 250 andthe lever 125 can be adjusted to correct minorinaccuracies of construction. It can be noted that the'free end of thebellcrank 250 is formed to provide a latch-releasing hook for releasinga latch mechanism, not shown herein, which holds a multiplier controlkey depressed throughout a multiplying operation. The hook on the endofhell'- crank 250is efiective, when the bellcrank 250 returns to itshome position shown in Fig. 5 (in which position the multiplier carriagelies .to the right of the window 51), to release the latch and therebyterminate the operation. A rack lever 260 is associated with thebellcrank 250, and is pivotally mounted on the stud 126. The free end ofthe rack lever 260 is provided with an arcuate rack 261 which is adaptedto cooperate with the latching nose 228 of crank 225. It has been notedthat when a constant multiplier factor is inserted in the mechanism, thefactor is first inserted in the keyboard (and thence into the pins 81and selection racks and the repeat key 200 movedforward. Such movementof the key 200 and its associated slide 201 forwardly, rocks thethree-armed crank 225 (clockwise in Fig. 4) to cause the tooth, or nose,228 to engage the rack 261. As the values are inserted in the multipliermechanism, the carriage will be shifted step-by-step to the left,thereby rocking the bellcrank 250 and rack lever 260 (counterclockwisein Fig. 5). Then, when the key 200 is moved forwardly to engage tooth228 with the rack 261, the lever 260 is locked in that angular position.The bellcrank 250 and the rack lever 260 are resiliently connected bymeans of a spring 262 tensioned between an ear 253 on the bellcrank 250and an ear 263 on the rack lever 260. The rack lever carries anadjustable step 264 which abuts the front edge of the bellcrank 250,thereby blocking clockwise rotation of the rack lever with respect tothe bellcrank. 1

By the means herein described, the multiplier value is locked in themultiplier selection mechanism by theoperation of the repeat key 200,which is eifective to lock that value in the multiplier selectionmechanism and, at the end of the multiplication operation, to releasethe holding pawl 136 to permit the multiplier carriage to return to theselected position, by means of the force of spring 127. 7

1 and 8, inclusive, thereby projecting that pin into the path of travelof the ordinally related selection rack 100. If the value is "9, no pinis projected as the selection rack 100 is permitted to travel until itabuts against a fixed stop 94. If the value is 0, then the selectionrack 100 is not released, and no stop pin is necessary. The downwardmovement of the multiplier value key is also operative to depress thestepping pawl so that its ear lies in the path of travel of the teeth ofrack 135 and depresses the holding pawl 136 so'that the multipliercarriage is permitted to take a partial step to the left (to the rightin Fig. 7) from the force of spring 127. This operation also depressesthe bar which bears against the latch releasing lever which, in turn,pulls the arm 177 to operate latch 110,'thereby releasing the selectionrack 100 for operation. Thereafter the release of the multiplier valuekey 30 restores the holding pawl 136 and stepping pawl 150 to theiroriginal position, thereby latching the multiplier carriage in the nextordinal position. In our invention, the pins 81 are resiliently biasedto their lower, or inoperative, positions and are held in an upper, oroperative, position, when lifted by one of the levers 50, by means ofthe ordinally arranged latches 88. The latch 88 is operated by movementof a pin 81 from the depression of a value key, by means of the camportion 85 on the side of the key rocking latch 88, thereby releasingany previously projected pins 81 for rettun to their inoperativeposition. The latch 88 is also rocked to its releasing position bydepression of the 9 value key, operating through the bellcrank 92 topermit the retraction of pins 81, and thereby permit the-selection rack100 to travel to the stop 94. i

- In the machine with which our invention is associated, the selectionracks 100 are operated upon by the multi-. plier mechanism, which isoperative upon the rack lying in the first, or lowest, ordinal positionof the window 31. Normally all of the racks lie to the right of thisposition. The multiplier carriage is shifted. to the left, and theselection racks 100 are thus shifted to the operative position,following the setting of a value in the pin carriage and the operationof the escapement mechanism heretofore described. Thus, values standingin the selection racks b to the right of the lowest order shown in thewindow 51, are of no effect upon the multiplying mechanism. It istherefore unnecessary to restore the racks and pins to an inoperativeposition, as has heretofore been the case, for values standing to theright of that order are of no effect and, therefore, need not beconsidered. Thus, only those values set in the last setting operationare effective upon the multiplier mechanism, as all values standing tothe right thereof, from a previous operation, can be ignored. When a 9is inserted in the selection mechanism, the 9 key is operative torelease the latch 88, but does not project a pin into the path of travelof the selection 100, thereby permitting it to travel to the stop 94. Onthe other hand if a "0 is inserted in the selection mechanism, it isoperative to control the single operation of the escapement mechanism tostep the carriage one order to the left, but is not operative to releasethe latch 110 so that the selection rack .100 is not affected.

It is obvious that with our invention it is no longer necessary torestore the pins to their inoperative position. This, therefore, permitsthe elimination of many parts heretofore considered necessary andprovides for more efficient assembly of the multiplier unit.

When it is desired to set the multiplier mechanism for repeat operation,the value is inserted in the multiplier keyboard and the repeat key 200then pulled forwardly. Such operation, as seen in Fig. 4, rocks thebellcrank 216 counter-clockwise and the three-armed lever, or crank,225, clockwise. This rocking of the lever 225 clockwise projects thetooth 228 thereon into the spaces between teeth of rack 26]. on lever260, thereby locking that lever and setting the mechanism for a returnof the carriage to the proper ordinal position. The rocking of .thelever 225 also operates the latching bail 239 to pre vent operation ofthe latches 110, thereby preventing the latching of the selection rackslift) in their 0" position.

I It will be understood, of course, that normally the selection racksare restored to their 0 position by the multiplier mechanism and arelatched in that position by the latches 119. If they cannot be solatched, they are free to return under the force of their individualsprings to the position determined by the previously set pins 81.

We claim:

1. In a calculating machine having a shiftable pincarriage including aframe, pins movably mounted in said frame and disposed in ordinallyarranged rows, and means resiliently biasing said pins to inoperativeposition, manually operated means including digit keys for seriallyshifting said pin carriage and selectively setting said pins one pin ineach row, means detenting said pins in the operative position thereofand including latching shoulders on said pins and latching bailsextending one along each pin row and engageable with the latchingshoulder on any pin set to operative position in the corresponding row,a selection member for each pin row, means resiliently biasing eachselection member from an inoperative position thereof to an operativeposition at which it is stopped by a set pin in the corresponding pinrow, latch means releasably engaging and holding said selection membersin inoperative position, means controlled by said manually operatedmeans serially releasing said selection member latch means as said pincarriage is serially shifted, and means effective to block reengagementof said selection member latch means after such 'zlatch means have beenreleased.

2. In a calculating machine mechanism comprising a shiftable pincarriage including a carriage frame, a plurality .of pins movablymounted in said frame and disposed in ordinally arranged rows, and meansresiliently urging said pins to inoperative position, means releasablydetenting said pins in operative position including a latching shoulderon each pin and a latching member disposed ad-. jacent each pin row andengageable with the latching shoulder of any set pin in thecorresponding row, manual control means effective to selectively movesaid pins to operative position, a selection rack associated with eachpin row and resiliently urged to operative position as determined by aset pin in the corresponding pin row,

latch means associated with each selection rack releasably I holding thecorresponding selection rack in inoperative position, and means actuatedby said manual control means serially shifting said pin carriage eachtime a pin is set and simultaneously releasing the correspondingselection rack latching means, a live tip on each selection rackengageable by the corresponding latching means, and manually controlledmeans effective to hold said latching means in position such that saidlive tips cannot relatch said selection racks upon restoration of saidracks to inoperative position after said latching means have beenreleased.

3. In a calculating machine mechanism comprising a shiftable pincarriage including a frame, a plurality of pins movably mounted in saidframe and disposed in ordinally arranged rows, means resiliently urgingsaid pins to inoperative position and means releasably detenting saidpins in operative position, manually controlled means effective toselectively set said pins one in each row and serially shift saidcarriage as the pins are set, selection racks mounted on said pincarriage and associated one with each pin row, means resiliently urgingeach rack to operative position as determined by a set pin in thecorresponding pin row, latch means releasably holding said racks ininoperative position, and means actuated by said manually controlledmeans serially releasing said 'latch means as the pins are set in thecorresponding pin rows, movable means interposed between said selectionrack latch means and the portions of the selection racks op posedthereto, resilient means urging said movale means to position to effectthe latching of said selection racks by said latch means, and manuallycontrolled means effective to relatively condition those latch means andcorresponding movable means corresponding to the selection racks thathave been released by the corresponding latch means against reengagementupon restoration of said racks to inoperative position.

4. In a selection mechanism for a calculating machine, a shiftable pincarriage, pins carried by said pin carriage in ordinally arranged rowsand movable between an inoperative and an operative position, meansbiasing said pins to inoperative position, manual means effective toselectively move one pin in each row to operative position, ordinalmeans effective to releasably detent set pins in operative position,means operated by said manual means for momentarily releasing saiddetenting means to permit restoration to inoperative position of apreviously set'pin in a row in which a pin is moved to operativeposition, means controlled by said manual means for ordinally shiftingsaid carriage, selection racks movable with said carriage andcooperating one with each ordinal row of pins, means biasing each ofsaid racks to turn from a 0 position toward a 9 position, said racksbeing differentially stopped by set pins in the correspond ing rows,latches releasably holding said racks in 0 position, a live tip on eachrack adapted to engage the coordinal latch, means biasing each live tipto a position to engage the coordinal latch, and means for blocking theengagement between said live tips and said latches to disable saidlatches from holding said racks in "0 position upon restoration of saidracks to said position.

5. In a selection mechanism for a calculating machine, a shiftable pincarriage, pins carried by said carriage in ordinally arranged rows andmovable between an operative and an inoperative position, means biasingsaid pins to inoperative position, manual means effective to selectivelymove any pin in each row sequentially to operative position, meanscontrolled by said manual means for ordinally shifting said carriage,ordinally arranged selection racks carried by said carriage eachengageable with the operative pin of its respective ordinal row of pins,means biasing each rack from a 0 position toward a "9" position, latchesfor releasably holding said racks in "0" position, a live tip on eachrack adapted to engage the coordinal latch when the associated rack isin "0 position, means biasing said live tips to latch engaging position,and means effective to block the engagement of said live tips with saidlatches and thus disable said latches from holding said racks in "0position when said racks are restored to such position.

6. In a selection mechanism for a calculating machine, a shiftable pincarriage, pins carried by said carriage in ordinally arranged rows andmovable betweeen an inoperative and an operative position, manual meanseffective to selectively move any pin in each row sequentially tooperative position, means releasably retaining said pins in eitheroperative or inoperative position, means controlled by said manual meansfor ordinally shifting said carriage, ordinally arranged selection racksmovable with said carriage each engageable with the operative pin of itsrespective row of pins, means biasing each rack to turn from a 0position toward a 9 position, live tips rockably mounted one on eachrack, ordinal latches engageable with said tips to releasably hold saidracks in "0" position, means biasing said live tips to position toengage the coordinal latches, and means for blocking engagement of saidlatches by said live tips to disable said latches from holding saidracks in 0 position when said racks are restored to such position.

7. In a selection mechanism for a calculating machine, a shiftable pincarriage, pins carried by said carriage in ordinally arranged rows andmovable between inoperative and operative positions, manual meanseffective to selectively move said pins to operative position in ordinalsequence, means controlled by said manual means for ordinally shiftingsaid carriage, an ordinally arranged set of rack members rockablysupported on said carriage for movement between two terminal positionsand each engageable with a pin of its respective ordinal row of pinswhich is moved to its operative position, means biasing said rackmembers toward one terminal position, a set of ordinally arranged latchmembers movably mounted on said carriage and effective to respectivelylatch said rack members in the other terminal position of said rackmembers, said pins being effective to stop their respective rack memberin a differential intermediate position when the rack member is releasedfrom the corresponding latch member and one of the pins in the row ismoved to operative position, a set of live tips rockably mounted one oneach member of one set of members, means biasing said live tips toposition to be engaged by the members of the other set of members whensaid rack members are in said other terminal position, and meanseffective to disable said live tips from engaging the members of saidother set of members and thus prevent latching of said racks in saidother terminal position when said rack members are restoredto said otherterminal position.

8. In a selection mechanism for a calculating machine, a carriage,selection racks mounted on said carriage for rocking movements about acommon axis, a live tip pivotally mounted on each selection'rack andextending beyond one end of the corresponding selection rack, and meansbiasing each live tip to an engaging position relative to said one endof the corresponding selection rack, latches engageable with said livetips to thereby latch the respective racks in one position, means foroperating said latches to release their respective live tips and thusenable said racks to be moved from said one position, and means forretaining said latches in their latching position to thereby preventrelatching of said live tips upon return of said racks to their oneposition or the release of a live tip theretofore held in latchedposition.

9. In a selection mechanism for a calculating machine, a selection rackmember rockable about a predetermined axis between two terminalpositions, a latch member rockable about a different predetermined axisand en- 'gageable with one end of said selection rack to releasablylatch said rack in one of said terminal positions, a pivotally mountedlive tip mounted on one of said members and interposed between the saidlatch and said rack to enable said latch to latch said rack in said oneterminal position, and means effective to hold said latch in a positionto disable said live tip and thereby prevent relatching of said rack insaid one terminal position when said rack is restored to said oneterminal position after having been released from said latch.

10. In a selection mechanism for a calculating machine, a pin boxcontaining ordinally arranged rows of pins having an inoperative and anoperative position, means for setting said pins in either an operativeor an inoperative position in ordinal sequence, a set of ordinallyarranged selection members movable from one terminal position to engagethe operative pin in the coordinal row of pins, resilient means formoving said selection members from said one terminal position toward anextreme operated position, means for restoring said selection mem-.

bers to said first terminal position, a set of ordinally arranged latchmembers opposing movement of the coordinal selection members from theirone terminal position, a set of live pawls rockably mounted on eachmember of one of said sets of members, resilient means biasing said livepawls to a position to be engaged by the members of the other of saidsets of members when said selection members are in said first terminalposition, and means effective to hold said latch members in a positionto disable said live pawls from latchingly engaging the members of theother one of said sets of members and thus prevent latching of saidselection, members in said first terminal position when said selectionmembers are restored to said first terminal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FranceI an. 15,

